WHEAT (World Hunger Education, Advocacy & Training)

The mission of WHEAT is to educate, advocate, engage and empower individuals to action in the fight against hunger and poverty. WHEAT focuses on the root causes of hunger and acts as a source and resource for individual and group involvement in programs and activities, working toward its end.

WHEAT has seen a lot in its 45 years - the everchanging face of hunger and poverty, reaching into families who thought they were safe from job loss, a bare pantry, eating candy bars because they cost less, couch-surfing with the children because there's nowhere else to go. WHEAT met these changes and challenges head on and developed and expanded programs to meet the needs of those we serve so that hunger and poverty can become a thing of the past - one person at a time.

WHEAT survived the worst of the pandemic thanks to you and here's what's up:

*The management trainees are navigating WHEAT's workshops and chat sessions online; the workshop presenters are both delivering lunch and dinner to participants as well as figuring out new technologies to teach and celebrate the little things - like making sure the microphone is on and just keeping in touch with each other.

*The customer-service oriented staff who provide such positive support to our clients and customers in WHEAT's Clothes Silo are serving more clients than ever before - being smart in how we do this to keep healthy and safe. They are even outfitting women with free, professional workwear while social distancing, sometimes miles apart as well as providing care packages of hygiene items and basic essential clothing items, by delivery and pick up.

*WHEAT's Fair Trade Store continues in store and online for purchases, so that we can keep income flowing to our local and global artisans and farmers that depend on this income to feed and clothe their families. Our staff are making this happen - running both the brick and mortar and the online shop, boxing and shipping orders of organic teas, handmade greeting cards, wooden puzzles and games and so much more.

*Our SNAP (Food Stamp) Outreach sites have gone on wheels as WHEAT's committed outreach workers are using their cars as mobile offices to provide SNAP application assistance throughout Arizona by FaceTime and Zoom, personally collecting, scanning and returning documents needed outside the clients homes to keep everyone healthy and safe while continuing to provide this necessary program that puts food on the table.

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By making a donation to WHEAT, you will be helping someone begin to help themselves within our community. Think of it as a down payment on their future.

Help us continue our mission to educate, advocate, motivate and empower individuals in the fight against hunger and poverty by donating today!

Each Year WHEAT:
• Sponsors high school teens living in at-risk situations in its ICan Youth Leadership Program to support educational and financial awareness;
• Trains, Graduates and gets Individuals Employed in Living Wage Jobs through its Management Training and Mentoring Program;
• Staffs SNAP Outreach partnerships at locations around the state of Arizona, providing enrollment in nutrition programs to eligible individuals;
• Continues to encourage self-sustenance for artisans and their families living in poverty around the globe, including Arizona, through WHEAT's Fair Trade initiative providing necessary income for families to feed, clothe and educate themselves through the sale of their handicrafts;
• Provides professional business wear, free of charge, for men and women entering or re-entering the workforce through The Clothes Silo and WorkWear for Men;
• Presents lectures, trainings and workshops on ending poverty and hunger through education and action;
…and much more.

Your donation, whatever amount, will help us to continue to help others become self-sustaining, participating members of our community.

Join Us...Donate, Volunteer, Share our Story.

Testimonials

"I was lonely and kept calling the WHEAT people, they finally decided to visit me. They were so kind and really needed extra help answering phones and talking to people, just like me. So guess what, I am now volunteering and I am now the one talking to the people who need help or who might just be lonely like I was. Thank you WHEAT for helping me and helping others too!" Betty G, a grateful new volunteer

"WHEAT is unique in working side by side policy makers as well as persons living with hunger in poverty to change the root causes of hunger. This is a powerful, but humble, organization that puts the people first." Rev. Craig Geiger, former WHEAT Officer and Board Member

"BECAUSE THIS ORGANIZATION CAN HELP ANYONE TO ESTABLISH THEIR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES AND HELP OTHER PEOPLE AND THEY HELPED ME," DIANE H...